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Senior Care for Alzheimer Patients – What are your choices?

Having a parent who is aging and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer‘s Disease is a traumatic event for both you and your parent.  Since this disease is degenerative and progressive, it is wise to consider your long term options as early on in the disease as possible.

The patient may seem well and fit with odd moments of memory lapses in the early stages, and you might be forgiven for thinking that you can cope with this disease yourself at home.  In reality the disease worsens and will eventually reach the point where the patient requires full time and constant care.  Added to this, the patient may have personality changes and be confused, angry and blame you for their condition.

If the disease is in its early stages you can opt to take care of the patient yourself, but think of your entire family and their well-being too.  Understand that the task is going to get more and more difficult and that you will need some kind of home care.  Home care is when you have a support worker come and take care of the patient for part or most of the day while you go out and earn your living and take care of your own family’s needs.

Finally there will come a time where your loved one will need full time, around the clock care.  You cannot do this alone, no matter that your good intentions are.  This is the time where you need to consider a residential care facility or a full time live-in care giver.  Only you can make the choice as there is no right or wrong choice. The right choice is one that best meets the needs of your and your own family.

Filed Under: Expert Advice, Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Signs of Allergies in a Young Child

Sappè Aloe Vera
Image by jonas_l via Flickr

Spring time is coming around and your child is getting certain symptoms for the first time. Perhaps, you’re wondering if your child is sick with the flu or a cold. Chances are, he or she may be dealing with allergies, especially with the onset of spring. By understanding allergies, you can figure out whether your child has them or not. Discover the symptoms for allergies and figure out what your child is dealing with.

Family history
Does your family have a history for allergies. If you or your spouse has allergies, then chances are your kid is also suffering from the same thing. However, if neither family member has allergies, you may want to go back a few generations and find out if anyone else had any allergies.

Constant Congestion
Is your child’s nose stuffy all the time? If so, he or she is suffering from constant congestion, another obvious symptom of having allergies.

Watery and itchy eyes
If your child’s eyes are watery or itchy, you may be wondering if he or she has pink eye. However, these are also clear symptoms of having allergies.

No fever
So, you thought your child had a fever, so you checked your child’s temperature. Surprisingly, your child doesn’t have one.

Rashes
If your child is breaking out, it may not be due to poison ivy, but rather allergies. Give him or her an oatmeal bath to sooth his or her pain. You may want to rub on a home remedy, such as Aloe Vera.

Ear infection
Your child may be dealing with a nasty ear infection. Again, this is just another sign of allergies.

Gets worse with increasing pollen count
If you notice your child’s symptoms worsening when the pollen count is high, then there’s a high chance he or she has allergies.

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Filed Under: Child Development, Education, Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

How to Get Your Kids on Routines

Children in Jerusalem.
Image via Wikipedia

As a mom, your schedule is hectic. The more your children depend on you to do everything, more stressful life becomes. That’s why it’s important to get your household to run on autopilot. Though this may sound seemingly impossible, parents can find ways to encourage their kids to practice independence.

Create schedules
Establish solid times for meals and bedtimes. When creating a schedule, be flexible, but firm. You don’t have to follow a schedule with the same intensity as a drill sergeant. Rather, you can keep certain times the same and offer options for others. It’s important for your children to be given a choice in what they do. This allows them to exercise a sense of freedom and responsibility.

Build habits
Having a routine is like building a series of habits. For example, have your children learn how to clean up after themselves anytime they make a mess. You can even get your kids used to reading right before going to bed. Another good habit could be preparing everything the night before. By building positive habits, you are ensuring success.

Begin when your child is around 18 months old
Around 18 months is the time children can start routines. If your children are much older, it may be difficult to undo a less structured lifestyle. However, just because your children are older doesn’t mean that he or she shouldn’t start having routines. Anytime is a good time to start routines. The benefit of having a routine can carry on into one’s adult life.

Explain to older kids why routines are beneficial
Older children require reasons when starting something new. When children begin routines, it can be difficult because they’ve established other habits. So, explain to your older children how routines can help in the long run by providing discipline and ensuring long-term success.

Filed Under: Child Development, Education, Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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